Woolwich, a town with many traditions, hosted its most colorful one Sunday evening – the annual Yuletide sing-along and holiday tree lighting. A good crowd turned out in the colonial-era Nequasset Meetinghouse as guests of all ages gathered to welcome the return of the Christmas season. The popular event also serves as an occasion to collect canned goods and cash donations for Bath Area Food Bank.

For more than an hour, the time-worn meetinghouse came alive again with the singing of carols and the music of the Montsweagers. All the holiday favorites were sung, “Deck the Halls,” “Jingle bells,” “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and more. The Clauses, Santa and Mrs. Claus, were the program’s featured guests.

Allison Hepler, selectman and District 53 representative, reprised her role as master of ceremonies. She recognized Collette Coombs and the other members of the Special Events Committee for having hosted the event for 31 years, and then led everyone in singing “Silent Night.”

Doug Protsik played a solo on the Yamaha organ singing “The Old Lamplighter,” which he dedicated to the late Lloyd Coombs, Woolwich’s first town administrator and a longtime selectman. Another highlight was when Mrs. Claus (Tamara Lilly) invited all the youngsters to sit around her by the Christmas tree while she read “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Shortly thereafter, Santa made his appearance with a bag of gifts for the boys and girls. The program would not have been complete without Scott Ciampa’s traditional singing of, “I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas  ('Cause I ain't been nothin' but bad!).”

David King, selectboard chairman, thanked everyone for coming to the program. He offered a special thank you to Road Commissioner Jack Shaw for his continued above and beyond service to the community. He added Woolwich was fortunate,  too, for all the dedicated men and women who make up the town’s first responders, and for the staff at the municipal building. “It takes a lot of hardworking people to make a small town run,” said King.

Everyone got a holiday safety reminder from EMS Director Danny Evarts. He said to be sure to check and see that all fire alarms are working properly, and remember to keep natural Christmas trees watered and the tree’s lights turned off when no one is home. Hepler noted this year’s beautiful Christmas tree inside the meetinghouse was donated by resident Todd McPhee. The only thing missing this year was snow; instead it rained.